[Coco] 2MB Memory Upgrade For The Coco 3

[Gene Heskett]

On Sunday 05 August 2012 18:23:52 Stephen H. Fischer did opine:

> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Gene Heskett" <gheskett at wdtv.com>
> To: <coco at maltedmedia.com>
> Sent: Sunday, August 05, 2012 10:52 AM
> Subject: Re: [Coco] 2MB Memory Upgrade For The Coco 3
> 
> > On Sunday 05 August 2012 13:40:23 Stephen H. Fischer did opine:
> >> Hi,
> >> 
> >> Tony's "DISTO 2 Meg Upgrade" manual and the "inside the 2 Meg
> >> Upgrade" book with schematics are on the web (Suggested that it is
> >> flawed intentionally) .
> >> 
> >> PM me for links if you are interested, we are not posting links even
> >> on the list to try and keep the traffic down for the site.
> >> 
> >> Getting parts may be hard if you wish to build your own.
> >> 
> >> The inside book is useful for understanding how the 2 Meg Memory
> >> upgrades work.
> >> 
> >> SHF
> > 
> > My advice is that the book is far more useful in that it would let a
> > savvy board(s) designer build his own with the devices he happens to
> > have in the spares box.  I say that precisely because the 1 megabyte
> > simms that kit used are, in the year 2012, made from 99.99% pure
> > un-obtainium.  One must bear in mind that the refresh counters needed
> > for more modern memory will often need expanded 2 to 8 bits beyond
> > the measly 7 or 8 the coco supplied,
> > and that is at least as challenging a design project as the extra
> > memory registers etc it takes to make a full 2 meg memory map, in 8kb
> > pages. Memory with that width of refresh will also carry a longer
> > time till refresh needed as it was forced to become less leaky in
> > order to hold its data well till the next refresh cycle came around.
> > 
> > Cheers, Gene
> 
> Hi,
> 
> Gene, there is good news and bad news (Temporarily).
> 
> First, the good news, I found Tony Distefano's "Inside DISTO's 2-Meg
> Kit" files.
> 
> I have the high quality scans for "2-Meg DAT Board.psp", and "2-Meg Mem
> Board.psp". ~ 17 MB each.
> 
> I also see many copies of them in jpg format in an attempt to reduce the
> size. Poorly done, changing the gray background to white would be a
> better plan or something else.
> 
> My new scanner might do a better job. I still have the paper version,
> but where is unknown.
> 
> ----------------------------------------------
> 
> Now the bad news.
> 
> I do not have the scans of the text, only an OCRed version.
> 
> I produced a HTML version and sent it to Paul Barton to check. He said
> it was OK, but I then found some typos later. I do not remember where I
> uploaded it to, I cannot find it on RTSI where I uploaded the C
> Compiler book scans to.
> 
> He was the person who produced an 8 Meg Memory upgrade for the CoCo3.
> 
> His webpage appears to be gone, perhaps someone can find it in the
> internet webpage archive.
> 
> Sock Master's web page has a link to his now gone web page. It was
> http://home.wwdb.org/irgroup/index.shtml
> 
> I found this (Using Search.com on CoCo3.com). I just had to copy a few
> more entries!!!
> 
> http://www.search.com/search?q=paul+barton+8+meg+coco3+memory+upgrade
> 
> ----------------------------------
> 
> Nov 9, 99: Paul Barton reports that tests on the 8Mb Upgrade board are
> proceeding with good success, but he'd like to converse with others
> about how to get new 6309 test code onto his machine. He doesn't have
> EDTASM and finds converting assembly from a crosscompiler on MSDOS to
> be a pain too.
> 
> Nov 9, 99: The IDE project has put a new web page online
> 
> Oct 15, 99: First some bad news. it seems we've finally come to the
> realization that Stephen Disney has "disappeared into thin air" with
> some of the Coco community's hard earned money. He's left quite a mess
> behind him too. Publication of "The World of 68 Micros" will be
> permanently discontinued, and the MP3 "learn the 6809 project is of
> course down the tubes - as well as the bulk purchase of 6309s from
> South Africa. Anyone who has information about where this person is -
> and why he's ignored repeated attempts to get a hold of him PLEASE
> contact someone within the Coco Community. I have in the past listed
> Mr. Disney's offerings on this page and I apologize if you have sent
> him money because of this - at the time of the postings no one had any
> reason to doubt the sincerity of this person. In general, the Coco
> Community continues to be comprised of the finest people you will find
> anywhere - people with whom you can deal with confidence. And now on to
> the more positive things.
> 
> ...
> 
> Oct 15, 99: Paul Barton reports his 8MB coco upgrade seems to be
> working! More testing is being done as I write. also ONLY ONE NoCan2
> remains available ($60 usd).
> 
> ----------------------------------
> 
> If someone wishes to try and clean up the ~ 17 MB original scans, send
> me a PM.
> 
> Gene, you have looked at this before I remember. Maybe you can remember
> where I uploaded it.
> 
> SHF

Sorry Stephan, I don't.  At 70+ the short term memory is starting to go. 

Cheers, Gene
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